Content of worker notification

This article summarizes discussions held during the workshop on the issue of the content of worker notification messages and related topics. The workshop itself involved a number of sessions where participants formed small groups. This article represents a distillation of the summary reports by the rapporteurs from each group. It is not intended as a complete review of this issue. Rather, it presents some of the concerns that arose during freewheeling discussions, with the idea that the points raised may help others to think about some of the issues involved. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Workshop on the methodology of worker notification

Transport of Hazards from the workplace to the home by workers is a previously recognized but poorly addressed public health problem. Particularly disturbing are the childhood intoxications which may result from such paraoccupational exposure. Work clothes and shoes appear to be a common vehicle for hazard transport in recently reported cases as they were in the past, although other “markers” for potential paraoccupational exposure may be derived from case reviews. These include: poor workplace hygiene, occupational intoxications in adult workers, and the “cottage industry” phenomenon. These markers are reviewed in the context of recently reported cases and strategies are suggested to mitigate these easily preventable exposures. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Biotin transport in the rat central nervous system.

Previous studies in the biotin-deficient rat have shown that brain biotin concentrations and the activity of biotin-dependent carboxylases are relatively preserved in the face of biotin starvation and systemic biotin deficiency. These data suggested the existence of a concentration mechanism for biotin in brain, and the present studies were undertaken to further characterize brain biotin transport. We presently show that rat cerebrospinal fluid biotin concentrations are 2.5 times higher than serum concentrations, consistent with the existence of a concentrative mechanism for biotin. Further, we demonstrate uptake of 3H-biotin into rat brain from blood at physiologic biotin concentrations, using single pass clearance measurements of a brain uptake index. The calculated brain uptake indices for biotin, and the inhibition kinetics, are consistent with the possible existence of a low affinity mediated uptake mechanism. The results have implications for the pathophysiology of human biotin-responsive multiple carboxylase deficiency.     

Issues in notification: Reflections of a public health worker

The objectives of notification are to inform individuals of research results so that they can make informed choices regarding health care and risk reduction behaviors, and to inform workers and employers of results and recommendations in order to take actions to improve workplace health and safety. Many questions confront researchers or public health workers engaged in notification efforts. Who should be notified? What information should be included in notification materials? When should notification occur? How and where should notification take place? What is the socioeconomic context in which notification is occurring? This article presents a public health worker's perspective on these issues. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is an idiopathic disorder (vasculitis) restricted to the central nervous system (CNS). It often presents with focal neurological deficits suggesting stroke or a combination of confusion and headache. We herein report three cases with various combinations of fever, partial seizure, encephalopathy, paresis, headache and ataxia. One of them was initially treated as herpes simplex meningoencephalitis, but further investigations revealed primary angiitis. Primary angiitis of the CNS has protean manifestations and should always be considered in patients suspicious to have CNS infection or stroke, particularly who does not respond to the routine treatments. Clinical data, exclusion of differential diagnoses and typical angiography seem to be enough to justify the diagnosis in the majority of cases.